Six children with thalassaemia whose families are unable to afford bone marrow transplantation are scheduled to depart for India to undergo the procedure with financial assistance from the Zakat Fund. This marks the first group of thalassaemia patients traveling abroad for the treatment this year.
According to Maldives Zakat House, four more children are scheduled to depart once the necessary administrative formalities are completed.
To mark the departure of the first group of patients, a special ceremony was held, attended by the Minister of Health, Family and Welfare, Geela Ali, Director General of Maldives Zakat House Sheikh Imthithaau Abbas, Chief Executive Officer of Male’ City Group of Hospitals (MCGH) Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem, senior officials from the Ministry, Maldives Zakat House, MCGH and the Thalassaemia Centre, and the patients’ families. The programme featured remarks by the Minister of Health and the MCGH CEO, followed by a briefing from Maldives Zakat House on the financial assistance being provided through the Zakat Fund.
Last month, Maldives Zakat House deposited USD 162,127 from the Zakat Fund to the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) to finance bone marrow transplantation for eligible thalassaemia patients. The assistance is provided under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments and the Ministry of Health on 21 February 2024. Prior to the signing of the MoU, the Zakat Fund had also supported bone marrow transplantation on several occasions since 2014.
Bone marrow transplantation is currently the only curative treatment for thalassaemia, a hereditary blood disorder that requires lifelong blood transfusions and ongoing medical care. The highly specialised procedure replaces the patient’s diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells from a compatible donor, allowing the body to produce healthy blood cells. Successful transplantation can eliminate the need for regular transfusions, significantly improve quality of life, and prevent long-term complications associated with the disease.
According to information shared at the event, a total of 10 patients have successfully completed the HLA donor matching process and have been approved to travel overseas for treatment in 2026. The first batch consists of six patients, while arrangements are currently being finalised for the remaining four to travel to hospitals in India empaneled through Aasandha.
Since 2024, the Zakat Fund has disbursed over USD 1.49 million to support bone marrow transplantation for thalassaemia patients seeking treatment abroad, as part of Maldives Zakat House’s continued commitment to ensuring that eligible patients have access to this life-changing and potentially life-saving treatment.